All 35 members of Municipal Corporation disqualified

Vijayapura

After the upgradation of the municipal council to a corporation, elections for 35 wards were conducted in October 2022. The results saw BJP winning 17 seats, Congress securing 10, AIMIM getting 2, JDS with 1, and Independents claiming 5. Despite being the largest party, BJP could not assume power in the first term.

Due to a legal dispute over the reservation of mayor and deputy mayor posts, these elections were delayed for 14 months. Once conducted, Congress emerged victorious, strengthening Minister M.B. Patil’s influence while causing a setback to Vijayapura City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal.

Congress leader Mainuddin Bilagi and BJP’s Prakash Mirji filed petitions in the High Court, stating that all municipal members failed to submit their property details in the prescribed format, violating municipal regulations. The court ruled that while mayoral elections could proceed, the decision on disqualification rested with the government. Subsequently, MS Karadi was elected as Mayor, and BJP-backed Sumitra Jadhav became Deputy Mayor.

Following the High Court’s directive, a report on the non-compliance issue was to be submitted by March 25. Acting on this, Regional Commissioner S.B. Shettennavar officially disqualified all 35 members for failing to meet the legal requirement. The disqualification order has now been issued to the complainants, marking a significant political shift in the municipal corporation.